In a market often driven by competition and complexity, Stephen Cousins has taken a refreshingly different approach—putting people, place, and simplicity at the heart of property search. As the founder of BlueCubes Web Design and the driving force behind HomesNI.com, Stephen has become one of the quiet innovators reshaping how people across Northern Ireland search for their next home.
Born and raised in Belfast, Stephen was educated at Grosvenor Grammar School before going on to study Aeronautical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast. While his career would ultimately take him in a different direction, the analytical discipline of engineering remains evident in everything he builds today.
“Engineering taught me how to build solutions from the ground up,” he reflects. “That mindset has influenced everything I’ve done since,” he says. “That way of thinking stayed with me—it’s just applied to a different field.”
In 2002, Stephen founded BlueCubes Web Design, developing bespoke websites and digital solutions across a range of sectors. It was in property, however, that he carved out a particular niche, working closely with estate agents for more than 16 years and building platforms for over 70 agencies.
“I got to really understand the industry from the inside,” he explains. “The challenges, the frustrations, and what people actually needed.”
That insight led directly to the creation of HomesNI.com, launched in July 2024. The idea, he is quick to point out, didn’t originate in isolation.
“Estate agents came to me,” he says. “They felt the existing portals had become too expensive and restrictive. They wanted something fairer—and something they could trust.”
HomesNI was built in response. Designed in collaboration with agents—many of whom are shareholders in the business—the platform puts their needs first, while delivering a cleaner, more transparent experience for buyers and renters.
Unlike traditional property portals, HomesNI was created with estate agents rather than for them, giving the industry a genuine stake in shaping its future.
“There are no distracting ads, no paid boosts pushing properties ahead,” Stephen explains. “Just the best homes across Northern Ireland, presented properly.”
The impact has been immediate. In just over 18 months, HomesNI has grown to include more than 85% of the property market, with many agents choosing to list there first. The platform’s social media presence has also surged, amassing over 35,000 followers in record time.
“If you’re not checking HomesNI, you could be missing out,” he says.
At the heart of the platform is a focus on simplicity and innovation. Its AI-powered search tool, “Ask Holmes,” allows users to search in natural language—transforming the way people interact with property listings.
“You can search naturally—something like ‘a three-bed detached home near Enniskillen under £300,000’—and Holmes does the rest”.
But beyond the technology, it is HomesNI’s focus on community that sets it apart. In its branded VW—affectionately known as ‘Buzz’—the HomesNI team has travelled across Northern Ireland, visiting 22 towns and showcasing more than 200 local businesses. The videos have attracted over 4.1 million views, inspiring people to explore not just homes, but the communities around them.
“We’re not just showing houses,” he says. “We’re showing why you’d want to live there.”
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Moving from a well-established B2B brand into a consumer-facing platform required a different kind of thinking.
“Building a public brand from scratch is completely different,” he admits. “You have to earn trust very quickly.”
With a mix of TV, social media, Google, YouTube and press, alongside innovative ideas like advertising slips beneath estate agent sale boards, HomesNI has rapidly established its presence—helped in no small part by the support of the agents themselves.
Stephen is particularly grateful for the support HomesNI has received from estate agents across Fermanagh. The county remains unique in Northern Ireland, with every local agent coming together to meet as one group in support of the platform. That level of collaboration and unity reflects the strong community spirit that exists within Fermanagh and has helped HomesNI establish itself quickly across the county.
Looking ahead, Stephen remains clear about his ambition: to make HomesNI the number one property portal in Northern Ireland, offering a service that is both fair and transparent.
“We want to be the place people automatically go,” he says. “And ultimately, the only place they need.”
It is, perhaps, this clarity of purpose that defines Stephen Cousins’ success. In an industry often crowded with noise, he has created something refreshingly straightforward—an approach built not just around property, but around people.
As he puts it:
“It’s not about listings. It’s about helping people find the right place to call home.”